Collapsible barbecue apparatus

ABSTRACT

Collapsible barbecue apparatus having a pair of end frames releasably connected in upright, spaced apart relationship and a grill disposed between the frames. Connectors loosely connecting the grill and the end frames provide vertical adjustability of the grill.

States Patent Quinn air. M, 1972 [54] C ULLAPSIBLE BARBECUE APPARATUS[72] Inventor: Daniel P. Quinn, 6030 Halifax St., Burnaby, BritishColumbia, Canada [22] Filed: June 16, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 46,718

[52] US. Cl. ..126/25 A, 126/9 R l [58] Field oi'Search ..126/9,25, 25A, 30

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,109 5/1937 Brennan..126/25 2,122,275 6/1938 Bitney ..l26/25 2,559,243 7/1951 3,081,6943/1963 3,342,122 9/1967 Blinn ..126/25AX Primary Examiner-Charles JMyhre Attorney-Lyle G. Trorey ABSTRACT Collapsible barbecue apparatushaving a pair of end frames releasably connected in upright, spacedapart relationship and a grill disposed between the frames. Connectorsloosely connecting the grill and the end frames provide verticaladjustability of the grill.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972 2 shets sheet 1Patented March 14, 1912 3,648,679

2 Sheets-Sheet R Lyle G. rorey,

Ag t

Daniel P. uirm,

1. COLLAPSIBLE BARBECUE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFQTHE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to a portable collapsiblebarbecue apparatus.

2. Prior Art Collapsible barbecue apparatus for cooking outdoors is wellknown. One type of apparatus uses connectors such as sleeves and thumbscrews for connecting several components. This type is usuallyadjustable to permit adjustment of height of food being cooked abovecoals or other combustible fuels and is rather expensive. Componentswhich are separable when the apparatus is collapsed can be, andfrequently are, lost.

Another main type of barbecue apparatus is usually made of wire and doesnot incorporate adjustable type connectors such as sleeves and thumbscrews, and is consequently much less expensive. This type is notusually readily adjustable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Barbecue apparatus of the present invention is,like the last mentioned type, made of wire, several components beingconnected by ring connectors so that the entire apparatuscan becollapsed into a neat package. The connected components are notseparablcthis substantially reduces chances of one or more ol'them beinglost.

The barbecue apparatus of the present invention is inexpensive tofabricate and simple to assemble and disassemble.

The present barbecue apparatus includes a pair of inverted U-shaped endframes, each frame having end bars, the end bars of the grill beingconnected to the crossbars of the end frames by ring connectors, and has(or includes) means for releasably connecting the end frames in spacedparallel upright positions, the ring connectors having a loose slidablefit over the crossbar and legs so that the grill can be verticallyadjusted on the end frames.

The barbecue apparatus of the present invention also includes invertedU-shaped supports mounted between the legs of each end frame acrosswhich spits are arranged, and spits adapted to extend between thesupports.

A detailed description following, related to drawings, givesexemplification of preferred embodiment of the invention which, however,is capable of expression in structure other than that described andillustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of assembledbarbecue apparatus of the invention, with a grill in a first position,

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the apparatus illustratingconnection of an end frame and a longitudinal brace,

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the apparatus with the grillin a second position,

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a portion of the apparatus with the grillin a third position,

FIG. 5 is a transverse section of a spit seated in a nest of a spitsupport.

LIST OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES apparatus II end frame 12 end frame l3crossbar 14 vertical leg 15 vertical leg I6 ends of legs 17 cross braces17.1 cross braces 18 eye I) spit support 20 crosspiece ZI legs 22 seats23 crossbar 24 legs 25 legs 26 cross braces 2b.] cross braces 27 eyes 29spit support 30 seats 3| longitudinal brace 32 longitudinal brace 33pintles 35 grill 37 side bars 38 end bars.

39 intermediate bars 40 loops 42 ring connectors 43 spits 46 panDETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. I shows barbecue apparatus, generally l0,assembled, the apparatus having a pair ofU-shaped end frames 1 I and 12each 'of which is formed of a single length of wire about onequarterinch in diameter and bent to the shape shown.

The end frame II has a crossbar l3 and vertical legs 14 and 15, havingU-shaped ends 16, as illustrated. The crossbar is, typically 16 inchesin length. Two parallel cross braces I7, 17.] space between the crossbrace I7 and the crossbar 13 being about ten inches. The cross braces asseen in FIGS. 1 and 2 extend outwards beyond the legs, end of the crossbraces being bent to form registering pairs of eyes 18. A spit support19 of inverted U-shape is connected to the cross braces I7, the spitsupport having a crosspiece 20 and depending legs 21. The crosspiece is,typically, 10 inches in length and is bent to present a pair of upwardlyopening spaced seats 22 adjacent the legs 21.

The end frame 12 is the same as end frame 11, having a crossbar 23 legs24 and 25, cross braces 26 and 26.1 having registering pairs of eyes 27and a spit support 29 having spaced apart upwardly opening seats. Thecross braces are welded to the end frames and the spit supports arewelded to the cross braces.

Both cross braces and spit supports are, typically. wire. one eighthinch in diameter.

Longitudinal braces 31 and 32, each formed of wire. typicallyone-quarter inch in diameter extend between the end frames. Each end ofeach brace is bent to form pintles 33 which fit in the eyes 18 and 27,see FIG. 2. Each pair of re gistering eyes serves as socket so thatwith, the pintles fitted in the sockets, the frames are supported in anupright position at a fixed distance apart so as to provide a rigidstructure. The braces 31 and 32, it is seen, are means for connectingthe end frames in spaced apart parallel relationship.

The apparatus includes a rectangular grill 35 having side bars 37 andend bars 38 and intermediate bars severally 39. The end and side bars ofthe grill are typically, made of wire one-quarter inches in diameter andthe intermediate bars are, typically, one-eighth inch in diameter.

Length of the grill is slightly greater, approximately one inch, thanthe distance between the crossbars I3 and 23 of the end frames and has awidth a little less, approximately I inch, than the distance between thelegs of the end frames. The end bars 38 of the grill are bent adjacentthe side bars to form a pair of downwardly opening half loops 40. Asseen in FIG. I and 3 four ring connectors severally 42, permanently andloosely connect the end bar of the grill and crossbar of the end frames,the ring connectors having an inside diameter, typically 1% inches, sothat they can be slipped off the crossbars and down the legs of the endframes thus providing vertical adjustment of the grill.

FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 The apparatus 10, see FIGS. 1 and 4, also has a pairof wire spits 43 extending between and resting upon the spit supports,the spits fitting in the upward opening seats 22. As seen in FIG. 5 anend portion of each spit is squared, the seats 22 have a complementarysquared shape, as shown so that the spits do not rotate.

The apparatus 10 also includes a pan 46, see FIG. 1, in which hot coalscan be placed, dimensions of the pan being such that the ends of thelegs can rest in the pan as shown. The

pan has a width such that it can be slipped crosswise between the endframes and rest either on the longitudinal braces or on the spits.

OPERATION FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 It is seen, with reference to FIGS. 1, 3,and 4, that apparatus provides height adjustment of the grill.

FIG. 1 shows the grill in a first position in which it rests upon thecrossbar of the end frames. In a second position, as shown in FIG. 3,the grill extends between the legs of the end frames with the ringconnectors engaged in the half loops 40. In a third position, see FIG.4, the grill rests on the spits, with the ring connectors encircling thelegs of the end frames.

The grill can be lowered to a fourth position, not shown, in which itrests on the cross braces with the spit supports extending upwardsbetween the end bars and adjacent intermediate bars, the spits firsthaving been removed.

In cooking meat such as hamburgers or hot dogs, the pan 46 can bepositioned on top of the spits and the grill can be set either in thefirst or second position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, depending on howthe meat is to be cooked. Foods such as chicken can be spitted with thepan positioned as seen in FIG. 1, or with the pan supported on thelongitudinal braces. Cooked foods can be kept warm by removing the panfrom either the spits or the longitudinal braces and, placing it beneaththe end frames as seen in FIG. 1.

The apparatus can be easily disassembled by removing the spits from thespit supports, disconnecting the longitudinal braces, and then foldingthe end frames inwards against the grill. The end frames with the grillattached, and the spits, can be sorted in the pan which serves not onlyas a receptacle for fuel but also as a storage container Iclaim:

1. A collapsible barbecue apparatusincluding:

a. a grill having end bars,

b. a pair of inverted U-shaped end frames each having legs and acrossbar,

c. means for releasably connecting the end frames in spaced apartparallel relationship,

d. connectors permanently connecting the end frames and the end bars ofthe grill,

e. means for vertical adjustment of the grill,

f. means on the frame legs for supporting the grill in selected positionbeneath the crossbar of the end frames.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the means e. includeconnectors having a loose slideable fit on the end bars and crossbarsand legs of the frames.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which the means c. includes: I

i. socket means on each leg of each end frame and,

ii. longitudinal braces having downwardly extending pintles at each end,the pintles being adapted to fit the socket means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the connectors are ringsadapted loosely to connect the end bars of the grill and the legs andcrossbars of the end frame.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the socket means includes apair of cross braces extending transversely between the legs of each ofthe end frames, the cross braces having eyes at opposite ends, the eyesat adjacent ends of each pair of cross braces being in registration forreceiving the pintles of the longitudinal braces.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including:

h. a U-shaped support connected in an inverted position to the crossbraces of each end frame, each support having a crosspiece disposedbelow the crossbars of the end frames for supporting spits.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the crosspieces of thesupports have upwardly opening squared seats and an end portion of eachspit is squared to fit in the seats so as to prevent rotation of thespits.

1. A collapsible barbecue apparatus including: a. a grill having endbars, b. a pair of inverted U-shaped end frames each having legs and acrossbar, c. means for releasably connecting the end frames in spacedapart parallel relationship, d. connectors permanently connecting theend frames and the end bars of the grill, e. means for verticaladjustment of the grill, f. means on the frame legs for supporting thegrill in selected position beneath the crossbar of the end frames. 2.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means e. include connectorshaving a loose slideable fit on the end bars and crossbars and legs ofthe frames.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means cincludes: i. socket means on each leg of each end frame and, ii.longitudinal braces having downwardly extending pintles at each end, thepintles being adapted to fit the socket means.
 4. Apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein the connectors are rings adapted loosely to connectthe end bars of the grill and the legs and crossbars of the end frame.5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the socket means includes apair of cross braces extending transversely between the legs of each ofthe end frames, the cross braces having eyes at opposite ends, the eyesat adjacent ends of each pair of cross braces being in registration forreceiving the pintles of the longitudinal braces.
 6. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 5 including: h. a U-shaped support connected in aninverted position to the cross braces of each end frame, each supporthaving a crosspiece disposed below the crossbars of the end frames forsupporting spits.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which thecrosspieces of the supports have upwardly opening squared seats and anend portion of each spit is squared to fit in the seats so as to preventrotation of the spits.